AN INTERNAL audit of Airbus sales campaigns, ordered after allegations of the use of slush funds, has turned up no irregularities, says parent company European Aeronautic Defence and Space.

The internal audit was carried out after reports in France alleged the French secret services had suspected EADS of keeping a slush fund to pay bribes for contracts. EADS said an internal audit of the sales campaigns of its commercial aircraft subsidiary Airbus had confirmed they complied with both internal and international regulations, and no irregularities were found.

Meanwhile, Airbus’s American rival, Boeing, has said orders for its 787 Dreamliner passenger jet have topped the 500 mark more than a year before its launch.

Recent orders from customers including Japanese airline, JAL, took orders for the jet to 514. The plane will make its maiden test flight in August.

Boeing said the Dreamliner, which it claims will use a fifth less fuel than other similar sized planes, had now attracted 43 customers since becoming available for order three years ago.

The US aircraft manufacturer has taken steps to avoid the sort of technical problems at the full production stage that have plagued the final assembly of Airbus’s giant A380 superjumbo in France.